Communications system

ABSTRACT

A novel communications system is provided, including a plurality of user terminals capable of communication using a predetermined communication software program and accessible to Internet, and an administrator server on line with Internet, wherein each of the user terminals is capable of transmitting a character message comprising character information for designating a character, action information for designating an action of the character and a text message to another user terminal through Internet via the administrator server with use of the communication software program, while the latter user terminal having received the character message is capable of displaying an image of the character performing the action and the text message on a screen by selecting a motion picture file based on the character information and the action information received using the communication software program and executing the motion picture file.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to communications systems utilizingcommunication channels such as an electronic mail system and a mobilephone system.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The number of electronic mail users is rapidly increasing withrecent steep proliferation of computers, mobile terminals and mobilephones accessible to Internet.

[0005] However, electronic mails are basically in the form of textthough they can be attached with images, programs, sound and the like.

[0006] With only a text message, it is difficult to convey the nuance ofa subject one wishes to say exactly to the other party. The receiver ofan electronic mail consisting only of text has to understand thecontents of the mail relying only upon letters of the text and, hence,misunderstanding is possible to occur.

[0007] In the case of a business transaction through an electronic mailit is sufficient for the electronic mail to transmit specific matterslike “delivery of . . . (number) sets of . . . until . . . (fixed date)”and, hence, the contents of the electronic mail can be understoodrelatively easily by the receiver of the electronic mail.

[0008] In the case of everyday communications through an electronicmail, in contrast, text is usually written in a spoken language and,hence, the receiver of the electronic mail has to make effort inunderstanding what the text of the mail intends to say with the help ofimagination because the receiver cannot know stressed points of the textand expressions or gestures of the transmitting side.

[0009] Generally, text gives a somewhat hard impression since it givesthe receiving side a stronger impression than speech and remains as arecord in future. For example, it is possible that even a friendlilywritten text transmitted through an electronic mail is misunderstood tobe disdainful by the receiver of the electronic mail. In this way asubtle difference in usage of words may cause the reader of a text tomisunderstand or make the reader unpleasant.

[0010] Those familiar with electronic mail use face marks for expressinga laughing face, crying face and the like with a series of letters orsymbols such as (^ 0 ^ ) in order to convey the nuance of a writtenspeech or their intention more exactly to a mail receiver and lightenthe expression with limited expression means, i.e., letters and symbols.

[0011] However, expressions of such face marks consisting of limitedletters and symbols are limited and, hence, it is difficult for suchface marks to convey diverse intentions and feelings.

[0012] Though an image can be attached to an electronic mail, laboriousand time-consuming operations are needed to draw a picture usingpainting software or to capture an image using a digital camera, scanneror the like before the image is attached to the electronic mail. Inaddition, the image thus attached is a still image and, hence, theexpression with a single picture or photo is limited very much.

[0013] Although a motion picture can be transmitted as attached to anelectronic mail, it takes a very long time to transmit such a motionpicture comprising multiplicity of images each having a large amount ofimage data.

[0014] Some mailers (software programs for transmitting and receivingelectronic mails) display a character such as a bear or a rabbit thatappears to bring an electronic mail to the mail receiver. To utilizesuch a mailer, it is required that a mail sender and a mail receiverhave respective terminals installed with a same version of mailer.Further, the character used in such a mailer merely brings a mail anddoes not function as means for expressing mail sender's intention.

[0015] There is a merit that a mail sender can send an electronic mailwhenever the main sender wants it and a mail receiver can read theelectronic mail whenever the mail receiver wants it. In another aspectthis merit is a demerit because the mail sender is incapable of checkingwhether the mail receiver has read a mail sent by the mail sender. Forthis reason, electronic mail insufficiently works as reliable means fortransmitting information. In fact, the mail sender becomes worried aboutwhether or not his or her mail reached the main receiver if there is noresponse from the mail receiver. As is often the case with such asituation, the mail sender cannot but make sure that the mail reachedthe mail receiver by telephone. Since there is no guarantee that anelectronic mail necessarily reaches an intended mail receiver, any meansfor confirming the receipt of an electronic mail is desired.

[0016] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea communications system that is capable of transmitting one's intentionto a receiving side in diverse expression manners as well as ofconfirming that the receiving side read the contents transmitted fromthe transmitting side.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide variousconvenient functions that cannot be achieved by the prior art electronicmailing system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system, which is configured such that when atransmitting side transmits a character and its action designated by thetransmitting side to a receiving side, the designated character performsthe designated action on a screen on the receiving side.

[0019] The communications system of this configuration is capable ofcausing a transmitting side's favorite character to perform an actiondesignated by the transmitting side on the screen on the receiving side.With this system the transmitting side becomes capable of expressivelyconveying feelings that cannot be conveyed with letters.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system, which is configured such that when atransmitting side transmits a character message comprising characterinformation for designating a character, action information fordesignating an action of the character and a text message to a receivingside, a screen on the receiving side having received the charactermessage displays a motion picture of the character together with thetext message.

[0021] The communications system of this configuration is capable ofdisplaying a text message as well as of causing a transmitting side'sfavorite character to perform the designated action on the screen on thereceiving side. With this system the transmitting side becomes capableof expressively conveying feelings that cannot be sufficiently conveyedwith letters only.

[0022] The communication system according to the first or second aspectof the present invention is preferably configured such that when thereceiving side receives character information for designating acharacter and action information for designating an action of thecharacter, a file related to the action of the character is selectedfrom information recorded on the receiving side and is executed.

[0023] With this configuration, the type of a character and acharacter's action are specified by the character information and theaction information, respectively and, hence, the receiving side iscapable of causing the character to perform the action on the screen onthe receiving side by executing a file recorded on the receiving side onthe basis of the contents thus specified.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the communications system isconfigured such that the transmitting side effects a transmission to thereceiving side through an administrator server and that when thereceiving side does not have the file related to the action of thecharacter, the file is transmitted from the administrator server to thereceiving side.

[0025] The type of a character and a character's action are specified bythe character information and the action information, respectively.However, if the receiving side does not have the file specified, thereceiving side has the intermediary administrator server transmit thespecified file to the receiving side and then executes the file.Accordingly, even if files related to all actions of every character arenot recorded on the receiving side, it is possible to cause a designatedcharacter to perform a designated action on the screen on the receivingside.

[0026] In another preferred embodiment, the communications system isconfigured such that communications are performed via an administratorserver and that when the receiving side is not ready to receive thecharacter message that is transmitted from the transmitting side via theadministrator server, the administrator server converts the text messageinto an electronic mail, attaches the character information and theaction information to the electronic mail as attachments and transmitsthe electronic mail to the receiving side.

[0027] When the receiving side is off-line with Internet or itscommunication software is not active, the character message transmittedfrom the transmitting side cannot be executed immediately on thereceiving side. In this case the administrator server converts thecharacter message into an electronic mail and its attachments and thentransmits them to the receiving side. Thus, the receiving side becomescapable of receiving information in the form of a common electronicmail.

[0028] In another preferred embodiment, the communications system isconfigured such that the character displayed on the receiving sidetemporarily suspends its action while the text message is beingdisplayed in a message box and then resumes its action after the messagebox is dismissed.

[0029] When the receiving side receives the character message, thecharacter starts performing its action and then temporarily suspends itsaction. During the suspension of the character's action, the textmessage is displayed in the message box. When the receiver dismisses themessage box after having read the message, the character resumes itsaction. This means that at a time the character's action is completed,the receiving side has already read the text message. Accordingly, thedismissal of the message box or the subsequent completion of thecharacter's action can form a basis for judging that the receiving sidehas read the message.

[0030] In another preferred embodiment, the communications system isconfigured such that a receipt confirmation message is automaticallytransmitted back to the transmitting side when the receiving side checksthe contents of the transmission received by the receiving side.

[0031] This configuration allows the transmitting side to confirm thatthe receiving side has checked the contents of the message. Further,since the receipt confirmation message is automatically transmitted backto the transmitting side after the checking of the transmission, thereis no possibility of a failure to transmit the confirmation message tothe transmitting side.

[0032] In another preferred embodiment, the communications system isconfigured such that a receipt confirmation message is automaticallytransmitted back to the transmitting side after the text messagedisplayed on the screen on the receiving side is dismissed.

[0033] With this configuration, the dismissal of the text messagedisplayed on the receiving side screen can be judged that the receivingside has checked the contents of the text message and, hence, thereceipt confirmation message is automatically transmitted back to thetransmitting side after the dismissal of the text message. Thus, it ispossible to prevent the receipt confirmation message from beingautomatically transmitted back to the transmitting side before the textmessage is checked on the receiving side.

[0034] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system, which is configured to allow aterminal of a user utilizing the system to display information on thestatus of other users previously registered.

[0035] With this configuration, a user becomes capable of knowing thestatus of other users if the user has only to look at the screen of theuser's terminal.

[0036] Preferably, the information on the status of other users isrenewed at a predetermined time interval.

[0037] Since the information on the status of other users is renewed ata predetermined time interval, every user can know the status of otherusers based on the latest information.

[0038] Preferably, the communications system is provided with anadministrator server which is capable of recording information on thestatus of a user transmitted from the user as well as of transmittingthe information thus recorded to another user in response to a requestfrom the latter user.

[0039] Since the administrator server stores information transmittedfrom users, the server can transmit the information to a user who hasmade a request for the information on the status of other users.

[0040] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system, which is configured to allow aterminal on a receiving side to compare information transmitted from atransmitting side with information provided either randomly or in apredetermined sequence by the receiving side to decide victory or defeatbased on a predetermined victory-or-defeat decision condition and thentransmit the decision of victory or defeat to the transmitting side.

[0041] This configuration is capable of deciding victory or defeat bycomparing the information transmitted from the transmitting side withthe information provided by the receiving side. Since the informationfrom the receiving side is provided either randomly or in apredetermined sequence, it is possible to prevent a cheat such that thereceiving side wins by knowing the information from the transmittingside first and then picking out information surpassing the informationfrom the transmitting side. Thus, this configuration is applicable to agame or the like that calls for simultaneous judgment on informationitems presented by the two sides.

[0042] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system comprising a plurality of userterminals capable of communication using a predetermined communicationsoftware program and accessible to Internet, and an administrator serveron-line with Internet, wherein each of the user terminals is capable oftransmitting a character message comprising character information fordesignating a character, action information for designating an action ofthe character and a text message to another user terminal throughInternet via the administrator server with use of the communicationsoftware program, while said another user terminal having received thecharacter message is capable of displaying an image of the characterperforming the action and the text message on a screen by selecting amotion picture file based on the character information and the actioninformation received using the communication software program andexecuting the motion picture file.

[0043] The communications system of this configuration allows thecharacter designated by the transmitting side to perform the designatedaction on a terminal on the receiving side as well as causes theterminal to display the text message together with the character. Withthis system the transmitting side becomes capable of expressivelyconveying feelings that cannot be sufficiently conveyed only by means ofletters to the receiving side without causing misunderstanding to occur.

[0044] Since motion picture information itself is not directlytransmitted and received but information for designating a file of themotion picture information is transmitted and received, a less load isimposed on the communication.

[0045] Preferably, the user terminal receiving the character message isconfigured to automatically transmit a receipt confirmation message backto the user terminal on the transmitting side via the administratorserver after the text message displayed on the screen on the receivingside is dismissed.

[0046] The receipt confirmation message is not transmitted back to thetransmitting side until the receiving side user has dismissed the textmessage; that is, the receipt confirmation message is not transmittedback to the transmitting side unless the receiving side user has readthe text message. Since the receipt confirmation message isautomatically transmitted back to the transmitting side if the receivingside user has read the text message, reliable receipt confirmation isachieved. The transmitting side user can be relieved to confirm that thereceiving side user has read the message when the receipt confirmationmessage reaches the transmitting side.

[0047] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system comprising terminals each of which iscapable of using a communication software program for transmitting andreceiving a character message comprising character information fordesignating a character, action information for designating an action ofthe character and a text message as well as of displaying an image ofthe character performing the action and the text message on a screen inresponse to a receipt of the character message.

[0048] Preferably, the action information is capable of designatingplural actions in a predetermined sequence.

[0049] The terminal of each user is capable of transmitting thecharacter message with use of the communication software program, whilethe terminal of another user receiving the character message is capableof displaying the character performing the designated actions. Since thetransmitting side is capable of designating character's actions in anydesired sequence, it is possible to further enrich the expression byappropriately setting the sequence of actions.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the communication system,communications are performed via an administrator server; the terminalon a receiving side is capable of selecting a motion picture file fromfiles recorded in the terminal on the receiving side based on thecharacter information and the action information that are received bythe receiving side terminal and executing the motion picture thusselected; and when the motion picture file is not recorded in thereceiving side terminal, the receiving side terminal is capable ofdownloading the motion picture file from the administrator server andexecuting the motion picture thus downloaded.

[0051] With this configuration, even if the motion picture file relatedto the character's action designated by the transmitting side is notrecorded in the receiving side terminal, the motion picture file isautomatically downloaded from the administrator server to the receivingside terminal and, hence, the receiving side terminal is capable ofdisplaying the character performing the designated action by executingthe motion picture file thus downloaded. Therefore, the receiving sideneed not hold all the motion picture files beforehand and hence is notrequired to have a large recording capacity. On the other hand, thetransmitting side can transmit the character message without worryingabout whether or not the receiving side holds the motion picture filerelated to the designated character.

[0052] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system comprising an administrator serveracting as an intermediary in communication among users utilizing thecommunications system, the administrator server having a userinformation database in which user status information consisting ofinformation on the current status of each of the users is recorded, anda group management database in which information on users belonging to agroup of users are recorded on a group basis, wherein the administratorserver is configured such that when the user status information istransmitted from a user to the administrator server, the administratorserver accesses the user information database to renew the user statusof the user recorded therein, and that when a user transmits a requestfor the user status information on another user to the administratorserver, the administrator server accesses the group management databaseto extract said another user belonging to a group to which the usermaking the request belongs, then accesses the user information databaseto search for the user status of said another user and, thereafter,transmits information on the user status of said another user to theuser making the request.

[0053] With this configuration, the administrator server is capable ofholding information on the latest user status of each user in the userinformation database. When a user makes a request for the user statusinformation on a member of the group to which the user belongs, theadministrator server specifies the member using the group managementdatabase and transmits the latest user status information on the memberto the user.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment of the communications system accordingto the seventh aspect of the present invention, terminals of the usersare each capable of transmitting a request for user status informationto the administrator server at a predetermined time interval anddisplaying the user status of another user belonging to a group to whichthe user transmitting the request belongs on the screen of the terminaltransmitting the request based on the user status informationtransmitted from the administrator server in response to the request.

[0055] With this configuration, each user is capable of obtaining thelatest user status information by periodically addressing a request foruser status information from his or her terminal to the administratorserver. Thus, the latest information on the current status of eachmember of the same group can be displayed on the screen of each userterminal.

[0056] Preferably, the terminals of the users are each capable oftransmitting a request for renewal of user status information for latestinformation to the administrator server at any desired occasionseparately from the periodical request for the latest user statusinformation.

[0057] With this configuration, a user is capable of obtaining thelatest information on the user status of each member of the same groupat any desired occasion.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, the user status has two types ofattributes including “OnNet” that is an attribute indicative of a statewhere a user terminal is on-line with Internet while a communicationsoftware program of the user terminal is active, and “OffNet” that is anattribute indicative of a state where the user terminal is not in theformer state; and when the attribute of the user status is “OnNet”, theuser terminal is capable of using instead of “OnNet” a user status itemselected from a plurality of previously provided user status items or auser status item arbitrarily created by the user while imparting thesame attribute as “OnNet” thereto.

[0059] With this configuration, it is possible to judge whether or not amember of the same group is ready to receive the character message aswell as to know the details of the status of a user by the use ofdifferent user status items.

[0060] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a communications system comprising an administrator serveracting as an intermediary among users in communication of a charactermessage comprising character information for designating a character,action information for designating an action of the character and a textmessage, the administrator server being configured to record user statusconsisting of information on the current status of each of the users.

[0061] With this configuration, the administrator server can relate thecharacter message to the user status.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the user status has two types ofattributes including “OnNet” that is an attribute indicative of a statewhere a user terminal is on-line with Internet while a communicationsoftware program of the user terminal is active, and “OffNet” that is anattribute indicative of a state where the user terminal is not in theformer state; and when the attribute of the user status is “OnNet”, thecharacter message from a transmitting side is transmitted as it is to areceiving side via the administrator server, while when the attribute ofthe user status is “OffNet”, the administrator server converts theinformation from the transmitting side into an electronic mail and thentransmits the electronic mail to the receiving side.

[0063] Preferably, the administrator server is configured to convertstext information included in the information transmitted from thetransmitting side into a body of the electronic mail while convertingthe character information and the action information into attachmentsattached to the electronic mail and then transmit the electronic mailwith the attachments to the receiving side.

[0064] With these configurations, the administrator server is capable ofjudging whether or not the receiving side is ready to look at thecharacter message from the user status of the receiving side user, andtransferring the character message to the receiving side only when thereceiving side is ready to look at the character message or convertingthe character message into an electronic mail and then transmitting theelectronic mail to the receiving side.

[0065] Preferably, the user terminal on the receiving side is capable ofreconverting the electronic mail with the attachments into the charactermessage in a state before the conversion into the electronic mail.

[0066] Since the character message converted into an electronic mail bythe administrator server is reconverted into the character message bymeans of the communication software program on the receiving side, theuser terminal on the receiving side is capable of displaying not onlythe text message but also the character performing the action.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, any one of the terminals used by theusers is a mobile terminal. The communications system of thisconfiguration can be utilized though a mobile phone.

[0068] In the communications system according to any one of theforegoing aspects of the present invention, a start-up software programfor starting up any desired software program is embedded in at least oneof the character and a balloon.

[0069] With this configuration, a user is capable of starting up adesired software program by clicking on one of the character and theballoon. If the software program is a browser, the character can belinked to a predetermined homepage so as to be used as an advertisingmedia. If an advertisement related image is used as the character (forexample, an image of a hamburger is used as the character by a hamburgercompany), an enhanced advertising effect can be expected. Alternatively,if the software program is word processing software, spreadsheetsoftware or game software, a user is capable of transmitting a messagewritten as desired by the user (text information or the like), a tableor a game.

[0070] It should be noted that the term “balloon”, as used herein, meansan encircled region containing words, speech or thought of a characteras typically used in a cartoon.

[0071] These and other objects, features and attendant advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent from the reading of the followingdetailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of acommunications system according to the present invention;

[0073]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a message transmitting procedure;

[0074]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a character message transmission phase;

[0075]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an electronic mail transmission phase;

[0076]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the procedure for renewing user status;

[0077]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the procedure of a transmission from amobile terminal;

[0078]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the procedure for starting upcommunication software;

[0079]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the procedure for terminatingcommunication software;

[0080]FIG. 9 is an illustration of a “basic screen”;

[0081]FIG. 10 is an illustration of a “menu bar”;

[0082]FIG. 11 is an illustration of a “status changing screen”;

[0083]FIG. 12 is an illustration of a “message addressee memberselecting screen”;

[0084]FIG. 13 is an illustration of a “message preparation screen”;

[0085]FIG. 14 is an illustration of a “character's action settingscreen”;

[0086]FIG. 15 is an illustration of examples of character's actionsperformed upon receipt of a character message;

[0087]FIG. 16 is an illustration of a “chat room status screen”;

[0088]FIG. 17 is an illustration of a “chat window screen”;

[0089]FIG. 18 is an illustration of a “received transmission box”;

[0090]FIG. 19 is an illustration of a display screen appearing whenaccess is made from a mobile phone;

[0091]FIG. 20 is an illustration of a “message addressee user selectingscreen (in the case of an access from a mobile phone)”;

[0092]FIG. 21 is an illustration of a “message preparation screen (inthe case of an access from a mobile phone)”;

[0093]FIG. 22 is an illustration of a “user registration screen”;

[0094]FIG. 23 is an illustration of a “user registration confirmationscreen”;

[0095]FIG. 24 is an illustration of a mail notifying the completion ofregistration;

[0096]FIG. 25 is an illustration of a “user registration completionscreen”;

[0097]FIG. 26 is an illustration of a “user information inputtingscreen”;

[0098]FIG. 27 is an illustration of a “group registration-correctionscreen”

[0099]FIG. 28 is an illustration of a “new group registrationconfirmation screen”;

[0100]FIG. 29 is an illustration of a mail notifying the completion ofgroup registration;

[0101]FIG. 30 is an illustration of a “new group registration completionscreen”;

[0102]FIG. 31 is an illustration of a “group information renewalscreen”;

[0103]FIG. 32 is an illustration of an “additional group userconfirmation screen”;

[0104]FIG. 33 is an illustration of a “group user registrationcompletion notifying mail”; and

[0105]FIG. 34 is an illustration of an “additional user registrationcompletion screen”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0106] The present invention will now be described in detail by way ofpreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

System Configuration

[0107]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration accordingto the present invention. Administrator server 1 has functions as acommunication server 2 used for access to Internet, as a data server 3for recording data, and as a data processing server 4 for processingdata. The administrator server 1 may comprise a single computerfulfilling all the functions of the administrator server 1 or pluralcomputers sharing the functions.

[0108] User terminals 5 a and 5 b and mobile terminals 6 a and 6 b(inclusive of mobile phones) are accessible to the administrator server1 through Internet. The connection between such a terminal and theadministrator server 1 may be established wirelessly. The generalconcept including the terminals and the mobile terminals is hereinreferred to as a user terminal 5 or 6.

User Registration

[0109] To utilize the communications system of the present invention, itis first required that communication software enabling transmission andreceipt of a character message be installed in a user terminal 5 or 6.Such communication software may be obtained either in the form of amedium such as a CD-ROM or by downloading it through Internet or thelike.

[0110] A person (or a party) who has newly installed the communicationsoftware in a user terminal has to follow the procedure of userregistration. When the person accesses a predetermined URL of the systemadministrator through Internet, a “user registration screen” as shown inFIG. 22 is displayed.

[0111] Then, the person inputs necessary information such as his or hermail address and password to the “user registration screen”. In thisembodiment, the nickname of the person to be displayed upon transmissionof a mail can also be registered.

[0112] When clicking is made on a register button after the entry of thenecessary information, a “user registration confirmation screen” asshown in FIG. 23 is displayed. If there is missing information or aninput error, an error message is displayed to request re-entry of thenecessary information.

[0113] The “user registration confirmation screen” displays theinformation previously input to the “user registration screen” by theuser to have the user confirm whether or not there is an error in theinformation registered. When the user clicks on the register button inthe screen after the confirmation has been made, the administratorserver 1 records the user information in “user information database” ofthe data server 3.

[0114] Subsequently, the administrator server 1 transmits a mailnotifying the user of the completion of user registration as shown inFIG. 24 to the mail address registered. This registration completionnotifying mail mentions the user ID of the user.

[0115] When the transmission of the user registration completionnotifying mail is done, a “user registration completion screen” as shownin FIG. 25 is displayed.

Initial Start-up of the Software

[0116] When the user starts up the communication software for the firsttime, a “user information inputting screen” as shown in FIG. 26 isdisplayed. The user inputs the user ID and password registered (a noticeof which is contained in the registration completion notifying mailalready transmitted to the user) and then clicks on the OK button. By sodoing, the user ID and the password are transmitted to the administratorserver 1.

[0117] The administrator server 1 checks whether or not the user ID andpassword are correct by collating them with the user informationrecorded in the database. If they are judged to be correct, the managerserver 1 transmits a confirmation message to the user terminal 5 or 6.When the user terminal 5 or 6 receives the confirmation messagetransmitted from the administrator server 1, the user terminal 5 or 6becomes ready for use.

[0118] If either or both of the user ID and the password are notcorrect, an error message is transmitted to the user terminal 5 or 6 andthe “user information inputting screen” is displayed again to urge theuser to input the user information again.

Group Registration

[0119] The user becomes a member of a group to make good use of thesystem of the present invention. Settings related to formation on a newgroup, addition of a new member to a group, deletion of a member from agroup, and the like are established by making access to a predeterminedURL of the administrator server 1.

[0120] When the user accesses the predetermined URL, a “groupregistration-correction screen” as shown in FIG. 27 is displayed. When anew group is to be formed, a new registration form is filled out withthe user ID and password of a representative of the group and the nameand password of the group and then clicking is made on the registerbutton to register the group.

[0121] When the group has been newly registered, a “new groupregistration confirmation screen” as shown in FIG. 28 is displayed. Theuser checks the registered information displayed. If there is no error,the user clicks on the register button to register the group definitely.

[0122] When the group registration has been definitely made, theadministrator server 1 registers the information on the newly formedgroup in a “group information database”. In the “group informationdatabase”are recorded the group ID, group name, group password, and theID of the group representative.

[0123] Upon completion of the registration, the administrator server 1transmits a group registration completion notifying mail as shown inFIG. 29 to the mail address of the group representative. In response tothe transmission of the group registration completion notifying mail, a“new group registration completion screen” as shown in FIG. 30 isdisplayed. Thus, the group registration procedure is completed.

Member Registration

[0124] At the time only a new group is registered, members forming thegroup are not registered yet. Thus, the members of the group are to beregistered next.

[0125] When clicking is made on a “user addition” button in the “newgroup registration completion screen” (FIG. 30), a “group informationrenewal page” as shown in FIG. 31 is displayed.

[0126] When a user is to be newly registered as a member of the group,an “addition of a user to the group” section is filled out with the userID, mail address and account of the user and a user's nickname for usewithin the group.

[0127] In transmitting a character message to a member of the group, themember can be specified by “account@group”. For example, if the group isnamed “ace” and the account is “king”, a character message can betransmitted to the member identified by “king@ace”. Since duplication ofan account within the same group makes it impossible to specify amember, it is required that duplicated registration of an account withina group be avoided.

[0128] The mail address of a user is input for the purpose ofauthentication. If the user ID and mail address of a user to beregistered as a member of the group are not the same as those alreadyregistered in the user information database, registration of the user asa member of the group is not permitted. This prevents a user from beingregistered as a member of an unknown group without the user's consent.

[0129] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a user from beingregistered as a member of a group, for example, for advertisement of acorporation or an organization without the user's consent and hence fromreceiving unwanted direct mails or mischievous mails as well as toprevent the representative of a group from making an error in memberregistration.

[0130] The nickname of a user is used to specify the user intransmitting a character message within the group to which the userbelongs. Though the nickname of a user has already been registered uponuser registration, the user, if belonging to plural groups, may wish touse different nicknames in different groups.

[0131] For a user to change his or her nickname on a group basis, thesystem of the present invention allows registration of a nickname to beused in only one group. For example, a nickname “general affairs YamadaT” consisting of the name of a division or section and the name of theuser may be used in a group related to a company for which the userworks, or a funny nickname “Mr. blue lizard” may be used in a group offriends.

[0132] In the case where there is no need to change the user's nicknameon a group basis, a “nickname for use within a group” section is leftblank so that the nickname registered upon user registration isautomatically registered.

[0133] When clicking is made on the “user addition” button in the screenafter the entry of necessary information, an “additional group userconfirmation screen” as shown in FIG. 32 is displayed.

[0134] However, if there is duplication of the account of a member to beregistered or an error in the mail address, the administrator server 1causes the “group information renewal page” to be displayed againfollowing an error message in order to urge the one accessing theadministrator server 1 (usually the representative of a group) to inputthe necessary information again. It is kind enough if the error messagecontains the cause of the error, reading for example: “The account isduplicated. Change the account for another account.” Alternatively, itis possible to display a screen such as to allow re-entry of only theinformation item input by mistake without displaying the “groupinformation renewal page” again.

[0135] The “additional group user confirmation screen” displays theinformation on the member to be added to the group, and if there is noerror in the information, clicking is made on the “user addition” buttonto register the member.

[0136] When the administrator server 1 receives a registration, itrecords the registration information in a “group management database”provided on a group basis. The “group management database” stores dataof “user ID of a group member”, “user account” and “nickname for usewithin a group”.

[0137] Thereafter, the administrator server 1 transmits a “group userregistration completion notifying mail” as shown in FIG. 33 to the useradded as a member of the group and to the representative of the groupand then causes an “additional user registration completion screen” asshown in FIG. 34 to be displayed.

[0138] Since the “group user registration completion notifying mail” istransmitted to the user added as well as to the representative of thegroup, the user is notified of the completion of registration even ifthe group representative has followed the procedure for registration ofaddition of a member to the group.

[0139] The user thus added to the group inputs the group ID mentioned inthe “group user registration completion notifying mail” to a settingscreen of the communication software installed in the user's ownterminal 5 or 6. This embodiment is configured such that once the groupID has been set in the communication software of the user, the user IDand group ID are automatically transmitted to the administrator server1. The administrator server 1 searches the group information database tocheck whether or not the user ID thus transmitted is included in thegroup having the group ID thus transmitted. If not, the administratorserver 1 transmits an error message to the user added to the group.Thus, the user added is prevented from making an error in setting thegroup ID.

[0140] In this way, the procedure for registering a new member of thegroup is completed. The procedure for adding a member to an existinggroup or deleting a member from the existing group is described later.

Start-up and Termination of the Communication Software

[0141]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the procedure for starting up thecommunication software. When the communication software according tothis embodiment is started up, the communication software judges whetheror not the terminal is on-line with Internet. If the connection withInternet is being established, a start-up message is transmitted fromthe user terminal 5 or 6 to the administrator server 1.

[0142] If the connection with Internet is not established, an inquiry asto whether the user wishes to establish connection with Internet isdisplayed on the screen of the user terminal 5 or 6. When the user givesan instruction to establish connection with Internet, the connectionwith the Internet is established and then the start-up message istransmitted from the user terminal 5 or 6 to the administrator server 1.

[0143] If the connection with Internet is not established, thecommunication software cannot provide communication because thecommunication software is kept off-line with Internet. Even in thisstate, the user is capable of checking the record of previously receivedtransmissions as will be described later.

[0144] Upon receipt of the start-up message from the user terminal 5 or6, the administrator server 1 accesses the “user information database”and change the user status to “OnNet”.

[0145] The “user status”, used herein, is information on the currentstatus of a user and is roughly divided into the following twoattributes: “OnNet” and “OffNet”.

[0146] The attribute “OnNet” indicates a state where the user terminal 5or 6 is on-line with Internet through a communication channel while thecommunication software in the user terminal 5 or 6 is active.

[0147] The attribute “OffNet”, on the other hand, indicates a stateother than the state indicated by “OnNet”, namely a state where the userterminal 5 or 6 is off-line with Internet or a state where thecommunication software is not active in the user terminal 5 or 6 even ifthe user terminal 5 or 6 is on-line with Internet.

[0148] After the administrator server 1 has changed the user status ofthe user starting up the software to “OnNet”, the administrator server 1searches the group management database associated with the group towhich the user belongs to extract the members of the group.Subsequently, the administrator server 1 extracts the current userstatus of each user as a member of the group from the “user informationdatabase” and transmits it as user status information to the userstarting up the software.

[0149] When the communication software starts up, a “basic screen” asshown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the user terminal 5 or 6. The “basicscreen” displays the user status of each user belonging to the samegroup according to the user status information transmitted from theadministrator server 1.

[0150] In the case where the user belongs to plural groups, names of allof the groups and the user status of all the members belonging to thegroups are displayed.

[0151] Though user status is roughly divided into the two attributes:“OnNet” and “OffNet” as described above, the attribute “OnNet” may befurther divided into detailed attributes, for example, “working”,“having a meal”, “meeting a visitor”, “taking a rest” and “leaving myseat for a while”, all of which retain the attribute “OnNet”.

[0152] Though it is possible to select desired ones of such detaileduser status items provided by the communication software, a user maycreate original user status items by directly inputting them as will bedescribed in detail later.

[0153]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the procedure for renewing the userstatus. The terminal 5 or 6 of each user transmits a user status renewalrequest for latest information to the administrator server 1 at apredetermined time interval. Upon receipt of the user status renewalrequest for latest information, the administrator server 1 accesses the“user information database” and searches for the group to which the userbelongs. Subsequently, the administrator server 1 accesses the “groupmanagement database” associated with the group searched to extract themembers of the group and then accesses the “user information database”associated with each user as a member of the group to extract the latestuser status of the members. Then, the administrator server 1 transmitsthe latest user status information of the members (all the membersexcluding the user transmitting the renewal request for latestinformation) of the group to the user terminal 5 or 6 of the user makingthe request.

[0154] The “basic screen” of the user terminal 5 or 6 displays the userstatus received last (at the latest) until the latest user statusinformation is received in response to the next user status renewalrequest for latest information. Though a shorter time interval at whichthe request is made is more preferable in obtaining the latest userstatus, the time interval may be appropriately set in view of thecapacity of the user terminal 5 or 6 because frequent renewal becomes aheavy load imposed on the user terminal 5 or 6.

[0155] The “basic screen” is provided with a “renewal for latestinformation” button. When clicking is made on this button, a request forlatest information is immediately transmitted to the administratorserver 1 separately from the aforementioned periodical request forlatest information. Thus, it is possible to have the administratorserver 1 transmit the latest user status information so that the userterminal 5 or 6 of a user displays the latest user status whenever theuser desires it.

[0156] Though it is convenient for a user to know the status of othermembers if the desktop of the user terminal 5 or 6 constantly displaysthe “basic screen”, an arrangement is possible such that when the userwishes to fully utilize the desktop, the “basic screen” is scaled downexcept when the user wishes to look at the basic screen largelydisplayed.

[0157] When right-clicking is made on the “basic screen”, a menu bar asshown in FIG. 10 is displayed. When the item “setting” of the menu baris selected, various settings including information renewal intervalsetting, display font setting and window skin (screen pattern) settingcan be established. “Chat” can be selected on the “basic screen”. The“chat” is described later.

[0158]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the procedure for terminating thecommunication software. When an instruction to terminate thecommunication software is given, the user terminal 5 or 6 transmits atermination message to the administrator server 1, and then thecommunication software is terminated.

[0159] Upon receipt of the termination message, the administrator server1 accesses the “user information database” associated with the user IDcontained in the termination message and then changes the user status ofthe user to “OffNet”.

Transmission Procedure

[0160]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the procedure for transmitting a message.When clicking is made on a “send a message” button on the “basic screen”after the start-up of the communication software, a “message addresseemember selecting screen” as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. A member towhich a message is to be transmitted is selected by selecting the userID of the member, or entering the user ID in a member section, orentering the electronic mail address of the member in a mail addresssection. The member can be selected from the list ofcommunication-enabled members within the group.

[0161] In selecting a message addressee it is better to take the userstatus of the addressee into consideration. If, for example, the userstatus of the addressee is “absent”, “meeting a visitor” or the like, itis highly possible that the message transmitted is not read immediately.Efficient transmission of a message at addressee's convenience is alsopossible.

[0162] A member out of the group can be selected by inputting themember's account within another group and the name of the group. Such amember may also be selected by inputting the member's mail address. Byselecting plural addressees it is possible to transmit the same messageto them at a time.

[0163] When clicking is made on a “message preparation” button on the“message addressee member selecting screen”, a “message preparationscreen” as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. The “message addressee memberselecting screen” includes a title section, a message section allowing amessage to be written in a balloon, an attachment section for drag anddrop of a file to be attached, and a selection screen for selecting acharacter and its action. A “title” and a “text message” both in lettersare input to the title section and the message section, respectively,and a desired character and its action are selected. As required, a fileto be attached to the message is dragged and dropped to the attachmentsection. Further, as the need arises, entry of the URL of a homepagethat the transmitting side user wants to have the receiving side userview is made into a URL entry section, or entry of the name of asoftware program that the transmitting side user wants to have thereceiving side user use is made into a software name entry section. Bydoing so, the URL or the start-up software program for starting up theaforementioned software program is embedded in the character selected.It should be noted that if the name of a software program that thetransmitting side user wants to have the receiving side user use or theURL of a homepage is entered in the “text message” section, the name ofthe software program or the URL appears in the balloon. When clicking ismade on the name of the software program or the URL in the balloon,access is made to the homepage linked with the URL, or the givensoftware program is started up by the start-up software.

[0164] This embodiment is configured to allow a user to select a desiredcharacter and its action from typical characters and actions offeredfrom the “message preparation screen”. However, clicking on a “others”button causes a “character's action setting screen” as shown in FIG. 14to be displayed for allowing the user to designate a character otherthan the typical characters or a more delicate action.

[0165] The image file of a desired character is loaded on the“character's action setting screen”. To make the character funnier, itis possible to provide the character with optional arrangements such asa character's color, clothes, belongings, arms and vehicle. If acombination of multiple options is possible, the user is capable ofcreating his or her own original character. For example, the user cancreate such a funny character as a “blue turtle wearing a yellow helmetand having a shovel” or a “dolphin with white wings wearing sunglassesand having a gun”.

[0166] It is convenient for the user if the character thus created canbe registered in the form of a character file to be invoked whenever theuser wishes to use it. If it is possible to register plural characters,the user can use different characters for different addressees,respectively.

[0167] As to character's actions, clicking on a button or the likeprovided on the “character's action setting screen” enables a desiredaction to be selected from the list of plural actions. It is possible toselect a single action or designate plural actions so that they areperformed sequentially. It is also possible to set a time period forwhich each action is performed.

[0168] An action designating button as illustrated in FIG. 14 allows auser to designate simple actions such as “move”, “jump” and “turnaround”. A button allowing the user to select more complicated actionssequentially may be provided. For example, it is possible to designate aseries of actions, for example, the character “hands a bunch of flowersto the addressee”, “makes a bow” and then “runs about”.

[0169] It is also possible to register the test message display timingin association with a certain action. For example, it is possible todesignate a series of actions such that the character “hands a bunch offlowers to the addressee”, displays a message “Happy birthday” or thelike in the balloon of the character, “makes a bow” and then “runsabout”.

[0170] When clicking is made on a “decide” button, the “messagepreparation screen” shown in FIG. 13 is resumed. After the entry of thetitle and message and selection of the character and its action havebeen made, clicking on a “send” button on the screen enablestransmission of a character message comprising character information onthe character designated, action information on the character's actiondesignated and the message to the administrator server 1.

[0171] Such character information or action information is notinformation containing data of an image or a motion picture butinformation for specifying a file containing data of the character'saction on the receiving side and, hence, the capacity of suchinformation is small. Thus, such information can be transmitted in arelatively short time and does not become a burden on communication.

[0172] Upon receipt of the character message information, theadministrator server 1 accesses the “user information database”associated with the message addressee and checks the current user statusof the message addressee.

[0173] When the user status of the receiving side user is not the“OffNet”, the system enters a character message transmission phase. FIG.3 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the character messagetransmission phase. In the character message transmission phase theadministrator server 1 transfers the received character message to thereceiving side user. When the receiving side receives the charactermessage, the character designated by the transmitting side is displayedon the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b with the text messagedisplayed in the balloon in a “character message receiving phase”illustrated in detail in FIG. 3 on the right-hand side. If a start-upsoftware program for starting up any desired one of various softwareprograms (such as spreadsheet software, word processing software, gamesoftware and browser software) is embedded in the character or theballoon (or the word portion in the balloon), clicking on such a portioncauses the desired software program to start up.

[0174] Since a character message is not a usual electronic mail, thisembodiment uses a protocol adapted exclusively for communication ofcharacter messages without using a protocol such as POP or SMTP adaptedfor electronic mails.

[0175]FIG. 15(a) illustrates an example of a character's actiondisplayed on the screen of a personal computer serving as a receivingside terminal upon receipt of a character message, while FIG. 15(b)illustrates such a character's action displayed on the screen of amobile phone 6 serving as a receiving side terminal. When the receivingside terminal receives a character message, the designated characterperforms the designated action on the screen of the receiving sideterminal. More specifically, a motion picture file (animation GIF or thelike) corresponding to the character information and action informationreceived is selected from information stored in the receiving sideterminal, and then this motion picture file is executed in thedesignated sequence to cause the character to perform actions in thedesignated sequence.

[0176] The character stops acting at the time the text message isdisplayed in a text message display window. Accordingly, the display ofthe text message does not terminate unless the receiving user becomesaware of the message.

[0177] When the receiving side user having read the text messagedismisses the text message display window, the receiving side terminal 5b or 6 b automatically transmits a receipt confirmation message to theadministrator server 1 and the character performs the remaining actions.When the character goes out of the screen, the character messageterminates. The transmission of the receipt confirmation message may beeffected after the character has completed the remaining actions. In thecase where the character message is attached with an attachment or thetransmitting side designates various software programs, clicking on thecharacter portion or the balloon causes a software program (for example,a word processing program or a spreadsheet program) associated with theattachment (if exists) to start up thereby opening the attachment.Alternatively, in the case where there is no attachment but a start-upsoftware program for starting up a game program is designated, clickingon the character portion or the balloon causes the game program to startup so that the receiving side user can play the game. If such a softwareprogram is a browser software program, clicking on the character portionor the balloon causes access to be made to the transmitting side or to ahomepage that the transmitting side wants to show the receiving side, sothat the homepage is displayed on the screen of the receiving sideterminal 5 or 6.

[0178] Unlike a conventional electronic mail consisting of text only,the communications system of the present invention is capable oftransmitting various characters having various expressions andperforming various actions which can convey feelings of the transmittingside user to the receiving side user and which, per se, can please thereceiving side user.

[0179] After receipt of the receipt confirmation message, theadministrator server 1 transfers to the transmitting side terminal 5 aor 6 a a receipt confirmation based on the receipt confirmation messagereceived. Thus, the transmitting side user is capable of making surethat the receiving side user has read the message transmitted by thetransmitting side user as well as of easily transmitting variousmessages to the receiving side user by means of various softwareprograms.

[0180] In the case where the receiving side does not immediatelytransmit the receipt confirmation message (or does not dismiss the textmessage display window) and the administrator server 1 transmits thereceipt confirmation message to the transmitting side terminal 5 a or 6a after lapse of a certain time period, it is possible that the userstatus of the transmitting side terminal 5 a or 6 a assumes “OffNet”. Inthis case the administrator server 1 keeps the receipt confirmationmessage until the user status of the transmitting side terminal 5 a or 6a becomes “OnNet”. When the user status of the transmitting sideterminal 5 a or 6 a becomes “OnNet”, the administrator server 1transmits the receipt confirmation message to the transmitting sideterminal 5 a or 6 a.

[0181] In the case where when a character message is transmitted, a filerelated to a character designated by the transmitting side is notinstalled in the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b, the administrator 1transmits to the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b the file related tothe action of the character in response to a request from the receivingside terminal 5 b or 6 b.

[0182] In this way the communication software of the receiving sideterminal 5 b or 6 b thus installed with data of the character becomescapable of executing the file. Therefore, the transmitting side candesignate any desired character without worrying about whether or notthe file related to the designated character is installed in thereceiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b.

[0183] If a next character message using the same character istransmitted to the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b, there is no needto have the administrator server 1 transmit action data of the samecharacter because the file of the action data is already recorded in thereceiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b.

[0184] When the user status of the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b is“OffNet”, the administrator server 1 enters an electronic mailtransmission phase. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure inthe electronic mail transmission phase.

[0185] The administrator server 1 copies a received text message to anelectronic mail. Character information and character's actioninformation are transmitted as attachments together with the textmessage. In this case the character message is in the form of anordinary electronic mail, communication is made using a protocol, suchas POP or SMTP, adapted for communication of electronic mails.

[0186] When the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b receives theelectronic mail thus prepared by means of the communication software,the original character message is restored upon opening of theelectronic mail and the character begins performing its action.Thereafter, as described above, the text message is displayed in thetext message display window, and when the text message display window isdismissed, the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b automaticallytransmits a receipt confirmation message to the administrator server 1,while the character performs the remaining actions. Before dismissingthe text message display window, clicking may be made on the characteror the balloon transmitted from the transmitting side to open theattached file or activate the start-up software program. Clicking on oneof the character or the balloon causes the message display window to bedismissed while, at the same time, causing the character to perform theremaining action. In response to the dismissal of the message displaywindow, the receiving side terminal 5 b or 6 b automatically transmitsthe receipt confirmation message to the administrator server 1 in themanner described above.

[0187] Where there are plural message addressees, some of them assumingthe user status “OnNet”, the others assuming the user status “OffNet”, acharacter message is transmitted to those assuming the user status“OnNet”, while an electronic mail is transmitted to those assuming theuser status “OffNet”. The procedure in each case is the same asdescribed above.

Recording of Received Mail

[0188] Each user terminal 5 or 6 is capable of storing a receivedcharacter message or an electronic mail. FIG. 18 illustrates a “receivedmessage box” in which recording of character messages and electronicmails are allowed as sorted on a group basis and on a user basis. If auser is selected, the title of the character message or electronic mailtransmitted from the user and the date and time of receipt aredisplayed.

[0189] If the user opens the file while designating a character messageor an electronic mail, the receiving side user can view the charactermessage or the electronic mail again and again. In the case of a messageincorporating a character's action or the like, the character's actionis reproduced in the same manner as when the message was received. Inthis case, a receipt confirmation message is not transmitted to theadministrator server 1.

Renewal of Status

[0190] When right-clicking is made on the basic screen shown in FIG. 9,a menu as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. Clicking on a “status change”button on the menu causes a “status change screen” as shown in FIG. 12to be displayed. When a user selects a desired one of status itemsprovided on the “status change screen” by means of a radio button andthen clicks on a “decide” button, the user status of the user is changedand user status information is transmitted to the administrator server1.

[0191] If the user feels it troublesome to invoke the menu and then the“status change screen” and select a desired status item, it is possibleto assign different status items to individual function keys andregister the assignment, whereby merely depressing a function key makesit possible to transmit the user status item assigned to that functionkey.

[0192] If the user wishes to use original user status items other thanthose provided on the screen, an “others” button is selected andappropriate words (for example, “bathing”, “meeting a visitor”,“shopping for a while” or the like) are freely entered in a text boxlocated adjacent the “others” button. When clicking is made on a“decide” button, the words entered are transmitted as user statusinformation to the administrator server 1.

[0193] In the event that the user terminal 5 or 6 becomes incapable ofautomatically transmitting a user status renewal request for latestinformation to the administrator server 1 due to anomalies in thecommunication channel or the user terminal 5 or 6, the administratorserver 1 judges that the user status of a user terminal from which theuser status renewal request is not transmitted for more than apredetermined time period is “OffNet” and then changes the user statusof the user to “OffNet”.

Renewal of Group Information

[0194] There may be a case where after a group has been registered, amember is added to or deleted from the group. In this case therepresentative of the group or the like accesses a predetermined URL ofthe administrator server 1 to cause the “group registration•correctionscreen” to be displayed.

[0195] When clicking is made on the “log in” button after entry of thecorrect group name and group password in a “log in” section, the “groupinformation renewal screen” shown in FIG. 31 is displayed.

[0196] If the administrator server 1 judges that the group name or thegroup password is not correct by referencing the “group informationdatabase”, the administrator server 1 causes an error message to bedisplayed to urge the group representative to enter the correct groupname and group password without causing the “group information renewalscreen” to be displayed.

[0197] Since the “group information renewal screen” displays the userIDs, names, mail addresses, accounts, and nicknames for use within thegroup of all the members of the group currently registered, an item tobe corrected is rewritten and then clicking is made on the “correct”button. Upon receipt of corrected information, the administrator server1 renews the information recorded in the group management database basedon the corrected information.

[0198] When a member is to be deleted from the group, the member isselected and clicking is made on the “delete” button. Upon receipt ofdelete information, the administrator server 1 deletes information onthe user to be deleted from the group management database based on thedelete information.

[0199] When a user is to be added to the group, it is sufficient tofollow the same registration procedure as the aforementioned groupmember registration.

Chat

[0200] Chat is a form of communication allowing plural parties toexchange messages in an on-line state as if they talked with each otherin real time by causing their terminals to display the contents ofcommunication on respective screens. The communication software used inthe present invention has such a chat function.

[0201] When clicking is made on a “chat” button provided on the basicscreen shown in FIG. 9, a “chat room status screen” as shown in FIG. 16is displayed. This “chat room status screen” displays plural chat roomsprovided by the administrator server 1 and the status of each chat room.As the status of a chat room, users utilizing the chat room are shown.If no one utilizes the chat room, an indication “no one is in the chatroom” is displayed.

[0202] A user may previously invite his or her friend or a like personto a chat room, like “Let us have a talk on recent movies in chat room#3 at eleven o'clock tonight.” Otherwise, the user may enter a chat roomwhere an acquaintance of the user is found to attend from the “chat roomstatus screen”. It is possible to previously provide chat rooms havingrespective subjects, for example, a “chat room about personalcomputers”, a “chat room providing meeting”, “chat room about sports”and the like.

[0203] When a user wish to attend a certain chat room, the user selectsthe chat room and clicks on an “enter room” button to cause a “chatwindow screen” to be displayed. The “chat window screen” comprises achat window in which the contents of a chat transmitted from usersutilizing the chat room are displayed, and a message box for a messageto be written therein. When clicking is made on a “send” button, themessage written in the message box is transmitted and displayed in thechat window. When clicking is made on “log-off” button, the userterminates the chat and leaves the chat room.

Communication using a Mobile Terminal

[0204]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the procedure for transmission from amobile terminal such as a mobile phone. A user accesses a predeterminedURL of the administrator server 1 using a mobile terminal throughInternet.

[0205]FIG. 19 illustrates a display screen displayed when access is madefrom a mobile phone. The display screen displays the names of users andthe user status of each user on a group basis. A user's name displayedis linked with the user as a message addressee and, hence, the messageaddressee is selected by merely selecting the user's name. Then, a“message preparation screen” as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed.

[0206] Alternatively, when “message” on the display screen is selected,a “message addressee user selecting screen” as shown in FIG. 20 isdisplayed. From this screen the user can designate a message addresseeuser by entering the user account of the message addressee user and thegroup name, or the mail address of the message addressee user.Thereafter, selecting the “message preparation” causes the “messagepreparation screen” shown in FIG. 21 to be displayed.

[0207] Subsequently, the title box and message box of the “messagepreparation screen” are filled out with the title of a message and themessage, respectively. Unlike a common personal computer, a mobileterminal such as a mobile phone has a difficulty in setting a characterand its action in detail. Therefore, this embodiment is configured suchthat a user can only select a character and its action frompredetermined ones. After entry of the message and the like, selecting“send a message” causes the message to be transmitted to theadministrator server 1.

[0208] Upon receipt of the message, the administrator server 1 searchesthe database for the user status of the receiving side user and entersthe character message transmission phase when the user status is not“OffNet” or enters the electronic mail transmission phase when the userstatus is “OffNet” as in the foregoing usual message transmissionprocedure. Subsequently, the character message or the electronic mail istransmitted to the receiving side terminal in the same manner asdescribed above.

One Example of Application of the Communications System

[0209] As described above, the communications system of the presentinvention has diverse functions including the function of enabling theuser to convey his or her feelings expressively to a receiving side userusing a character, the function of confirming that the receiving sideuser has read the message and like functions that the conventionalelectronic mailing system cannot realize. Therefore, the communicationssystem of the present invention may find various applications.

[0210] For example, it is possible that each employee of a company hasterminal 6 and the company checks the working state of each employee bythe user status to always grasp the current activity of each employee.This makes communications within the company smooth and makes itpossible to grasp the current status of each store or sales office,thereby making the company's business more efficient.

[0211] If a user is registered as a member of a group formed by amanufacturer or a distributor, the user becomes capable of obtaining thelatest news from the manufacturer or the like with explanation by animage character. In this case a lottery-like element may be included.For example, the manufacturer randomly transmits a message with a prizeto members of the group and then gives a present to the membersreceiving the message with the prize. By giving the present to each userhaving transmitted receipt confirmation of the message with the prize,it is possible to increase the number of members of the group. Since themanufacturer can advertise its goods for an increased number of users,efficient advertisement becomes possible.

[0212] The communications system of the present invention can be used inplaying a game in a group of friends. For example, the game of“scissors-paper-rock” or a like simple game can be conceived. In thiscase, a transmitting side selects any one of“scissors”, “paper” and“rock” and transmits a character message to a receiving side. On thereceiving side a character performs an action corresponding to theselected one. By adjusting settings of the communication software acharacter provided by the receiving side is caused to perform an actioncorresponding to “scissors”, “paper” or “rock” randomly or in apredetermined sequence on the receiving side terminal having received acharacter message comprising the game of “scissors-paper-rock” from thetransmitting side. The receiving side terminal or the administratorserver can judge the victory or defeat based on a predetermined rule ofthe game of “scissors-paper-rock” and then transmits the outcome of thegame such as “You win.” or “I win” back to the transmitting side.

[0213] It is also conceivable that the communications system is used asa highly game-like application in which a character provided by atransmitting side fights with a character provided by a receiving side.In this case also, the receiving side terminal or the administratorserver can judge the victory or defeat based on a predetermined decisioncondition and transmits the outcome of the game back.

[0214] Further, it is possible to impart advertisement of goods with agame property. For example, if a character provided by a user registeredas a member of a manufacturer's group wins a game against a charactertransmitted from the manufacturer, the manufacturer sends its goods tothe user in response to receipt of the outcome of the game. Since userscan enjoy such advertisement, the advertisement utilizing thecommunications system is highly effective in sales promotion.

[0215] As has been described, the present invention provides thecommunications system that is capable of transmitting one's intention toa receiving side in diverse expression manners as well as of confirmingthat the receiving side has read the contents transmitted from thetransmitting side. Further, the present invention provides variousconvenient functions that cannot be achieved by the prior art electronicmailing system.

[0216] While only certain presently preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have been described in detail, as will be apparent for thoseskilled in the art, certain changes and modifications may be made inembodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communications system, which is configured suchthat when a transmitting side transmits a character and its actiondesignated by the transmitting side to a receiving side, the designatedcharacter performs the designated action on a screen on the receivingside.
 2. A communications system, which is configured such that when atransmitting side transmits a character message comprising characterinformation for designating a character, action information fordesignating an action of the character and a text message to a receivingside, a screen on the receiving side having received the charactermessage displays a motion picture of the character together with thetext message.
 3. The communication system according to claim 1 or 2,wherein when the receiving side receives character information fordesignating a character and action information for designating an actionof the character, a file related to the action of the character isselected from information recorded on the receiving side and isexecuted.
 4. The communications system according to claim 3, wherein thetransmitting side effects a transmission to the receiving side throughan administrator server and that when the receiving side does not havethe file related to the action of the character, the file is transmittedfrom the administrator server to the receiving side.
 5. Thecommunications system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, whereincommunications are performed via an administrator server and that whenthe receiving side is not ready to receive the character message that istransmitted from the transmitting side via the administrator server, theadministrator server converts the text message into an electronic mail,attaches the character information and the action information to theelectronic mail as attachments and transmits the electronic mail to thereceiving side.
 6. The communications system according to any one ofclaims 2 to 5, wherein the character displayed on the receiving sidetemporarily suspends its action while the text message is beingdisplayed in a message box and then resumes its action after the messagebox is dismissed.
 7. The communications system according to any one ofclaims 2 to 6, wherein a receipt confirmation message is automaticallytransmitted back to the transmitting side when the receiving side checksthe contents of the transmission received by the receiving side.
 8. Thecommunications system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein areceipt confirmation message is automatically transmitted back to thetransmitting side after the text message displayed on the screen on thereceiving side is dismissed.
 9. A communications system, which isconfigured to allow a terminal of a user utilizing the system to displayinformation on the status of other users previously registered.
 10. Thecommunications system according to claim 9, wherein the information onthe status of other users is renewed at a predetermined time interval.11. The communications system according to claim 9, wherein anadministrator server is provided which is capable of recordinginformation on the status of a user transmitted from the user as well asof transmitting the information thus recorded to another user inresponse to a request from the latter user.
 12. A communications system,which is configured to allow a terminal on a receiving side to compareinformation transmitted from a transmitting side with informationprovided either randomly or in a predetermined sequence by the receivingside to decide victory or defeat based on a predeterminedvictory-or-defeat decision condition and then transmit the decision ofvictory or defeat to the transmitting side.
 13. A communications systemcomprising a plurality of user terminals capable of communication usinga predetermined communication software program and accessible toInternet, and an administrator server on line with Internet, whereineach of the user terminals is capable of transmitting a charactermessage comprising character information for designating a character,action information for designating an action of the character and a textmessage to another user terminal through Internet via the administratorserver with use of the communication software program, while saidanother user terminal having received the character message is capableof displaying an image of the character performing the action and thetext message on a screen by selecting a motion picture file based on thecharacter information and the action information received using thecommunication software program and executing the motion picture file.14. The communications system according to claim 13, wherein the userterminal receiving the character message is configured to automaticallytransmit a receipt confirmation message back to the user terminal on thetransmitting side via the administrator server after the text messagedisplayed on the screen on the receiving side is dismissed.
 15. Acommunications system comprising terminals each of which is capable ofusing a communication software program for transmitting and receiving acharacter message comprising character information for designating acharacter, action information for designating an action of the characterand a text message as well as of displaying an image of the characterperforming the action and the text message on a screen in response to areceipt of the character message.
 16. The communications systemaccording to claim 15, wherein the action information is capable ofdesignating plural actions in a predetermined sequence.
 17. Thecommunication system according to claim 16, wherein: communications areperformed via an administrator server; the terminal on a receiving sideis capable of selecting a predetermined motion picture file from filesrecorded in the terminal on the receiving side based on the characterinformation and the action information that are received by thereceiving side terminal and executing the motion picture thus selected;and when the motion picture file is not recorded in the receiving sideterminal, the receiving side terminal is capable of downloading themotion picture file from the administrator server and executing themotion picture thus downloaded.
 18. A communications system comprisingan administrator server acting as an intermediary in communication amongusers utilizing the communications system, the administrator serverhaving a user information database in which user status informationconsisting of information on the current status of each of the users isrecorded, and a group management database in which information on usersbelonging to a group of users is recorded on a group basis, wherein theadministrator server is configured such that when the user statusinformation is transmitted from a user to the administrator server, theadministrator server accesses the user information database to renew theuser status of the user recorded therein, and that when a user transmitsa request for the user status information on another user to theadministrator server, the administrator server accesses the groupmanagement database to extract said another user belonging to a group towhich the user making the request belongs, then accesses the userinformation database to search for the user status of said another userand, thereafter, transmits information on the user status of saidanother user to the user making the request.
 19. The communicationssystem according to claim 18, wherein terminals of the users are eachcapable of transmitting a request for user status information to theadministrator server at a predetermined time interval and displaying theuser status of another user belonging to a group to which the usertransmitting the request belongs on the screen of the terminaltransmitting the request based on the user status informationtransmitted from the administrator server in response to the request.20. The communications system according to claim 19, wherein theterminals of the users are each capable of transmitting a request forrenewal of user status information for latest information to theadministrator server at any desired occasion separately from theperiodical request for the latest user status information.
 21. Thecommunications system according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein:the user status has two types of attributes including “OnNet” that is anattribute indicative of a state where a user terminal is on-line withInternet while a communication software program of the user terminal isactive, and “OffNet” that is an attribute indicative of a state wherethe user terminal is not in the former state; and when the attribute ofthe user status is “OnNet”, the user terminal is capable of usinginstead of “OnNet” a user status item selected from a plurality ofpreviously provided user status items or a user status item arbitrarilycreated by the user while imparting the same attribute as “OnNet”thereto.
 22. A communications system comprising an administrator serveracting as an intermediary among users in communication of a charactermessage comprising character information for designating a character,action information for designating an action of the character and a textmessage, the administrator server being configured to record user statusconsisting of information on the current status of each of the users.23. The communications system according to claim 22, wherein: the userstatus has two types of attributes including “OnNet” that is anattribute indicative of a state where a user terminal is on-line withInternet while a communication software program of the user terminal isactive, and “OffNet” that is an attribute indicative of a state wherethe user terminal is not in the former state; and when the attribute ofthe user status is “OnNet”, the character message from a transmittingside is transmitted as it is to a receiving side via the administratorserver, while when the attribute of the user status is “OffNet”, theadministrator server converts the information from the transmitting sideinto an electronic mail and then transmits the electronic mail to thereceiving side.
 24. The communications system according to claim 23,wherein the administrator server is configured to convert textinformation included in the information transmitted from thetransmitting side into a body of the electronic mail while convertingthe character information and the action information into attachmentsattached to the electronic mail and then transmit the electronic mailwith the attachments to the receiving side.
 25. The communicationssystem according to claim 24, wherein the user terminal on the receivingside is capable of reconverting the electronic mail with the attachmentsinto the character message in a state before the conversion into theelectronic mail.
 26. The communications system according to any one ofclaims 13 to 17, wherein any one of the terminals used by the users is amobile terminal.
 27. The communications system according to any one ofclaims 1 to 26, wherein a start-up software program for starting up anydesired software program is embedded in at least one of the characterand a balloon.